[Hungry_Horse_1955]

Nor mine!!!!!!

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

I’m still not convinced the arches have been modified, although I think the front one has been crunched!!!

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

I think you’ll find the tyres are Insa Turbo Sahara Mud Terrains. These are available in 195/80R15 and larger. They are remoulds(?) on usually new Michelin carcasses.

I think you’ll find that the arches have not been modified as they are the same as my Country!

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

The multi-colour printout from the laser alignment rig gives the rear cambers as -2.033 and -2.233 degrees with a limit of -1 to -2. Whilst one front is +0.5 degrees with a limit of -0.166 to -0.833. Everything else is within tolerances. I can probably get away with the -2.033, but the -2.233 is nearly 25% out and the front is 100% out.

I notice that these are both on what was the ‘nearside’ of the vehicle. Could be something to do with clouting a drain or pothole!!!

I’ll have to investigate how to change the cambers front and rear. Its probably on a thread somewhere so I’ll do some searching.

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

I’ve been down to my local PowerFlow emporioum and had a new Stainless Steel exhaust fitted. I’ve had the existing Cat removed and replaced with a 2 into 1 ‘bit’ and a 2-1/4″ system. I wanted a twin exit, but that would mean chopping the bodywork and I wasn’t keen on letting anyone near the car with a grinder[!], so I’ve got a single exit.

It is a bit louder than I wanted, but hopefully when I install ‘Phase 2’ [], a S/S Rallye manifold and a Hi-flow Cat the noise should be more subdued, but money is an issue at the moment[] so that will have to wait.

My reckoning is that removing the Cat should give me another 5bhp taking it up to 103bhp. I’m definitely going to get a BB ECU, but it needs to be able to be purchased using PayPal and a bit less than the £95 I’ve seen one advertised for at the moment. However, curiosity is likely to get the better of me and I might just succumb to £95[]

The initial drive felt as if the vehicle was more eager to rev and seem to pick up better in the mid-range. I’ve yet to try it on a long run so will see if it has any effect on the cruising speed.

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

I have replaced my ‘road’ tyres with Vredestein Quatrac 3. I’ve only had them for a week but they have had nothing untowards yet, not that I’m expecting any! I’ll try and get some pictures so you can see what they look like.

I’m off to Tours in France[] soon so will let you know how they fare.

When I return I shall give them a tryout in the mud to see how they behave off the road[}]

I’m still waiting a price for the supply the Insa Turbo Dakars! I’ll keep you all posted.

I also had the car set up on one of these 4-wheel laser alignment rigs. It even has settings built in for the Golf Country[:0] However the rears are slightly out of alignment so will have to buy a set of those wobbly bolts mentioned elsewhere on this site[]

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

The ETOS lists the following front springs

Under “Golf/Syncro/Rallye/Country” and “heavy duty suspension” (factory option PR-1BB) ;-

191 411 105 AG – +20mm
191 411 105 J – +40mm
191 411 105 AH – +40mm
191 411 105 AH – Country

Under “Golf” and “heavy duty suspension” (factory option PR-1BB) ;-

191 411 105 N – Golf/Jetta
191 411 105 P – Golf/Jetta

but these do not specify any height increase.

191 411 105 R is for Golf sport suspension, not just G60

I can not find what J and G are for, but most front springs are for Golf and Jetta, In fact suffices K to P, S and T are for both vehicles.

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

It might also be worth trying the likes of GSF, etc. They can probably get non-OE springs and dampers if you want!

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

I’ve checked my copy of ETOS and think that you need the following part nos to convert to +40mm.

Front-
Coil Spring – 191 411 105J or AH
H/D Shock Absorber – 191 413 013 T
Rubber Stop for S/A – 357 412 303E
Suspension Strut Storage – 357 412 329
Spring Disc – 357 412 341

Rear-
Coil Spring – 191 511 115 P
Shock Absorber – 191 513 035
Stop Buffer – 191 512 131 A
Base – 191 512 149 A
Protective Pipe – 171 513 425 (may be a misprint and could be 191)

Hope this is of some help.

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

Syncros could be ordered with +40mm suspension height from the factory! I should think that you could get appropriate shocks and springs without too much problem.

For part numbers check the ETOS catalogue or no doubt Chris can quote them off the top of his head[][][:p]

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

Right!!

The ‘new’ ECU I have is the 037 906 022 N version, which is the replacement for the GTi 037 906 022 FJ version. These are for the UK, where they (usually) were not equipped with a catalytic converter.

Now, if I fit these to my Catalytic Converter equipped Golf Country, will it work properly?

Failing this, has anyone got a suitable GTi ECU for use with a catalytic converter?

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

Those are the old BF Goodrich All-Terrain pattern as on the picture from gruppe_a.

The BF Goodrich All-Terrain and Mud-Terrain pattern are detailed here;-

http://www.offroadreifen.com/programme/reifenmarke_start.php?hcode=86&reifentyp=o&PHPSESSID=57d055785c0a01e82d7fcdbb4cbdf7d7

The Ranger version is the old All-Terrain pattern and the Dakar version is the old Mud-Terrain pattern. The Ranger version is only available in 195/80R15 size, whilst the Dakar version is available in 195/80R14 and 195/80R15.

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

I currently have 7″ x 15″ ET28 CalMaster wheels shod with 205/60R15 which I shall probably reshod with some Vredestein Quadtrac 3.

I also have a set of winter tyres which are 175/70R14 Vredestein Snowtrac on 6×14 ET38 wheels. These are bloody excellent in the snow!

Standard Golf Country are 195/60R15 on 6×15 (I think ET38) which have a calculated diameter of 615mm while the Chrom version has a diameter of 627mm (+2%).

205/65R15 have a diameter of 648mm (+5.3%) and the 205/70R15 have a diameter of 668mm (+8.6%). Whilst these tyres may fit, there may be problems with fouling when on full lock or when on full suspension travel, especially as they are wider than normal. I’m not sure if changing the offset will counter this.

Also it is usually recommended (I don’t know where from) that you shouldn’t go more than around 3% from your standard size. Also your speedo and mileometer (or kilometer) will be inaccurate and depending how inaccurate it was initially, it could be outside the 10% allowed by law!!!!

The 195/80R14 I want to fit have a diameter of 668mm (+8.6%) but as I only intend to use them on the rough stuff and will swap back to the standard size for ‘normal’ motoring I think that I can live with it.

Hope this is of some help.

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

Hi Simon,

I’ve decided to get some Insa Turbo Dakar tyres; size 195R14. These are the old BFG Mud terrain pattern. However, they are not available in the UK, so I contacted Insa Turbo in Spain.

They said that their importer, Micheldever tyres, would be happy to order them in for me and my local tyre emporium ASF Tyres can get them from Micheldever. I’m going to talk to ASF tomorrow to see how much they are going to cost. Otherwise I can get them from Offroadreifen Mayerosch @ http://www.offroadreifen.com for around EUR320 for 4, including shipping.

I’ll let you know how much ASF are going to charge!

[Hungry_Horse_1955]

jman,

Are these suitable for the Golf Country version, bearing in mind that the engine on these are roughly 4″ lower in the bodyshell than standard syncros? I don’t know if the linkages are the same! Anyone?

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